Hugo Vazquez 
So we lost to the Rams which means we’re 4-6, and now almost certainly out of the playoff race. Green Bay and Minnesota are too far ahead, and unless a miracle happens (which, by the way, won’t happen) we’re done. I would like to be optimistic about this, but there’s just no way we can still be in the running. Not only did we lose, but this loss was also the most impactful loss we’ve had all season. It’s not just the fact that we lost, but the way things were going, we could have won the game pretty easily. For the first half of the game and some of the third quarter, the game looked like it was being handed to us and we just couldn’t capitalize on it. So what happened?
Well, first and foremost, our offense seemed okay for most of the game but not when we needed it to be. Our running game could never get it going, having only 74 yards total with both of our running backs not being in any position to do well. First down, second down, oh, it didn’t matter. David Montgomery averaged only 31 yards in 14 carries. Tarik Cohen didn’t do much better, having only 39 yards with nine carries. Of course, most of this can be boiled down to our offensive line just not being able to perform at all. The Rams defensive line was simply too much to handle for our mediocre-at-best offensive line. Mitchell Trubisky didn’t do too bad. His only interception of the evening being off of a tip-up by Anthony Miller. He threw for 190 yards and made a little over half of his passes while showing good signs of mobility and the willingness to throw the ball despite constant pressure. What Trubisky really struggled with was consistently being able to find receivers open. Now of course not all of this is to blame on him, as several tight ends were injured and the Rams secondary is elite, but he certainly could have done better.
Our defense… I just feel so bad for them. Sure, Todd Gurley and the Rams running game was killing us for parts of the game, but they performed really well nonetheless. In the first quarter alone, the defense got us two turnovers which gave our offense amazing positioning. In the second half, the defense really shut down Todd Gurley and the rest of the running game for the Rams. Unfortunately, what became the Bears’ downfall were a few big plays, including a 50-yard reception by Cooper which set up an easy touchdown. Overall, I think Chuck Pagano put up a pretty good game plan to stop the Rams, but things just didn’t go our way.
To finish things off, I just want to say that I think I’m wrong about Eddie Pinero. As of late he looked extremely nervous and looked like he doesn’t even want to touch the football whatsoever, much less kick it and try to be a hero. If we thought Connor Barth or Cody Parkey was bad, Pinero is currently doing worse statistically than both of them.
At least we can look forward to next season.
By Hugo Vazquez, senior, Brooks college prep
Instagram: hugovazquez.14
